PIA Press Release2008/02/29

Energy chief lauds CdeO as first LGU to implement RLG

Cagayan de Oro City (29 February) -- Energy Secretary Angelo R. Reyes has lauded Cagayan de Oro City for forging an agreement with the Cagayan De Oro Electric Light & Power Co. (CEPALCO) to formalize the implementation of the Roadway Lighting Guidelines (RLG).

The first to be done in the entire country under the Philippine Energy Efficient Lighting Market Transformation Project (PELMATP) or "Palit Ilaw," the agreement is expected to reduce the amount paid by the city for lighting the streets and ensure efficient lighting of its roads.

"Street lighting is mandatory. Our local chief executives have to make sure that the streets are properly lighted," Reyes who once held the posts of Secretary of Defense, the Interior and Local Government and Environment and Natural Resources, said

But overly designed streetlights are often the reason why the local government units incur unpaid bills while the poorly designed/lit roads and the absence of streetlights in some areas are the cause of increased crime rates and vehicular accidents, he added.

Thus, the DOE with the support of the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will demonstrate the application of the RLG to provide strategies for the proper design of the roadway lighting system in the city aimed not only for road visibility and safety, but also energy efficiency.

Developed through the technical assistance of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers (IIEE), Philippine Lighting Industry Association (PLIA) and Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines (ENPAP), the PELMATP hopes to subsequently reduce not only the street lighting bills but also address the issue on climate change.

The LGU which will subscribe to this program can generate as much as 80% savings of their energy bills by changing the bulbs of 250 watts to 70 watts, which means they will have more money available for other services to the people because sometimes you pay more for the heat than the light that is generated from the bulb.

The energy saved can be used by other users specifically to provide light and access for those areas which are yet unlighted. There is also less generation of energy by power plants which are using oil fuel or coal that increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions causing global warming that results in climate change which is the unpredictable, irregular behavior of the weather.

"We have to find a 'win-win' solution to address this problem and I am so delighted by the prospect of this project being adapted by the other LGU's nationwide," Reyes who recently signed the agreement with City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula of CDO and Consuelo G. Tion, Chief Executive Officer of CEPALCO, said.

Meanwhile, during the first quarter of 2007, the retail rate of effective unbundled energy (RREUE) in Northern Mindanao was sold at an average of Php5.878 per kilowatt hour, of which the highest rate was imposed on streetlights at Php6.88/kwh., followed by residential, Php6.00/kwh., commercial, Php5.66/kwh., public, Php5.53/kwh. and industrial, Php5.32/kwh.

Data from the National Transmission Co. (Transco) also show that in the second quarter, the RREUE in the region was sold at the same average price of Php4.35/kwh.